McLean County Times

The Illinois State University (ISU) Redbirds tied for fourth place at the 2024 Badger Invitational, held in Verona, Wisconsin. Junior TJ Barger led the team with a one-under 71 in the final round, marking his third consecutive round under par. ISU's three-day total was 870, tying them with Memphis and Washington State.

Northern Illinois claimed the team title with a score of 855, followed by Long Beach State and tournament host Wisconsin, both finishing at 858. Other teams included Nebraska (873), Minnesota (875), Southern Miss (877), Ball State (892), South Dakota State (892), VCU (902), Southern Illinois (903), Winthrop (908), Western Kentucky (916), and Green Bay (927).

Barger, from Bloomington, Illinois, finished fourth individually with rounds of 69, 70, and 71 on the par-72 course. His final-round score was the sixth-best individual score of the day. Alex McCulla and Pietro Pontiggia each tied for 25th with a three-round total of 220. Will Troy and individual Francis Bautista tied for 45th with scores of 225. Aiden Cudney completed the lineup with a three-round total of 230, tying for 69th.

Barger's final round included four birdies, eleven pars, and three bogeys. McCulla recorded four birdies and nine pars to finish one-over at 73. Pontiggia also had four birdies along with seven pars for a five-over score of 77.

Cudney's round featured one birdie and ten pars for a score of 78. Troy carded two birdies and ten pars to finish at 79. Bautista had the lowest individual round on the squad with a two-under score of 70 in the final round.

The Redbirds will take a weekend off before concluding their fall season at the Leadership and Golf Collegiate Championship in Monterey, California from October 21-23.

###